A church in Dolton, Illinois, has boldly stepped into the legal arena, suing the village and Mayor Tiffany Henyard for what they claim is a wrongful blockade against their attempts to refurbish and move into a new building for worship. The Redeemed Christian Church of God Resurrection Power Assembly has charged that it has been repeatedly stonewalled from obtaining the necessary permits to take up residence at 703 E. Sibley Blvd., a property the church insists is zoned to allow a house of worship. According to a Chicago Tribune report, the church finds itself in a standoff over the right to renovate the building it purchased last June.
The church is currently preaching patience and negotiation, as U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey Cummings has urged discussions for a settlement. Despite that, the church's attorney, John Mauck, makes it clear they are prepared to hold firm on certain principles, saying "there is no chance to settle unless the village allows the church to worship in its building. That is non-negotiable." The attorney continued, declaring that "Fundamental freedoms are being denied," in a statement obtained by the Chicago Tribune.
The legal action claims that the village's refusal to issue a business license has compromised the church's ability to complete necessary electrical and plumbing work. The lawsuit, which was filed this March, also highlights an incident involving Pastor Stephen Osunkeye who, during a visit to Village Hall for the business license, was purportedly told by a village official that the mayor aimed to preserve Sibley Boulevard for commercial use, effectively excluding churches.
Dolton's mayor is concurrently embroiled in another controversy, having recently vetoed a resolution calling for an investigation into her spending habits. This veto came against a backdrop of unanimous support from the village board and growing calls for an FBI investigation into Henyard's financial conduct. To juxtapose religious freedom with allegations of corruption a statement from Mauck, provided to FOX 32 Chicago, claims "I’ve never seen such a blatant disregard for an ordinance and religious civil rights."
As the Redeemed Christian Church waits to possibly consolidate its place within the Dolton community, Mayor Henyard and the village have until May 8 to respond to the motion for an injunction, with a judge-set status hearing to discuss the progress of the case. In the meantime, the court's hopes for settlement draw attention to both the promise of resolution and the enduring battle lines drawn around the church's unyielding right "to worship the Lord by this church at this location," as Mauck stated to the Chicago Tribune.
